Headaches really suck; there are many different types, and not all headaches start in the head. If you’ve ever noticed a dull ache creeping up the back of your skull after a long day hunched over a laptop, or a one-sided headache that seems to follow a stiff, achy neck, you might be dealing with a cervicogenic headache; a headache that actually originates in the neck.
What Makes It Different
Cervicogenic headaches are considered “secondary” headaches, meaning they’re a symptom of an underlying issue in the cervical spine (the neck) rather than a standalone condition like migraine or tension-type headache (primary headaches). The pain typically starts at the base of the skull or upper neck and radiates forward toward the forehead, temple, or behind one eye, almost always on just one side.
Common triggers and contributing factors include:
- Poor posture, especially prolonged forward-head positions from screen time
- Muscle tension in the neck and shoulders
- Neck injuries, such as whiplash from a car accident
- Arthritis or degenerative changes in the cervical spine
- Pinched nerves or joint dysfunction in the upper vertebrae
Telltale Signs
While only a healthcare provider can give an accurate diagnosis, some hallmark features of cervicogenic headaches include:
- Pain that worsens with certain neck movements or sustained postures
- Reduced range of motion in the neck
- Tenderness when pressing on specific spots at the base of the skull
- Headache pain that’s consistently on the same side
- Associated shoulder or arm discomfort
This can make cervicogenic headaches easy to confuse with migraines or tension headaches, which is why proper evaluation by one of our osteopaths or physiotherapists matters.
What Can Help
Because the root cause is musculoskeletal, treatment usually looks different from typical headache remedies. Approaches that often help include:
- Manual therapy, such as massage or spinal mobilization
- Physical therapy focused on neck mobility and postural correction
- Targeted stretching and strengthening exercises for the neck and upper back
- Ergonomic adjustments to workstations to reduce forward-head posture
- Heat therapy to ease muscle tension
Why You’ll Need Physiotherapy and Osteopathy Intervention
Two of the most common and effective professionals for treating cervicogenic headaches are osteopaths and physiotherapists. While their approaches overlap, each brings a slightly different angle:
Osteopathy takes a more whole-body, hands-on approach, using manual techniques like soft tissue massage, joint articulation, and gentle manipulation to improve mobility in the neck and upper spine. Osteopaths also consider how posture, breathing, and even areas
like the jaw or upper back may be contributing to neck tension, aiming to address the broader mechanical picture rather than just the neck in isolation.
Physiotherapy typically focuses on restoring function through structured, exercise-based rehabilitation. A physiotherapist will usually assess neck range of motion, posture, and muscle strength, then build a program that might include deep neck flexor strengthening, postural retraining, stretching for tight muscles, and hands-on joint mobilization.
The goal is not just short-term relief but long-term correction of the movement patterns causing the problem. Many people find success with either profession; our Quay Health clinics offer both.
When to Come See Us
If you’re dealing with frequent or worsening headaches, especially ones tied to neck pain or stiffness, it’s worth talking to a professional. Here at Quay Health, we can help rule out other causes and help pinpoint whether your neck is truly the source, then guide you toward the right treatment plan.
The good news: because cervicogenic headaches stem from a mechanical issue rather than a neurological one, they often respond well to conservative treatment once properly identified. Paying attention to posture, taking movement breaks throughout the day, and building neck strength can go a long way toward keeping them at bay.
References:
American Migraine Foundation. (2016, October 24). What is cervicogenic headache? How do you treat it? https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/cervicogenic headache/
Al Khalili, Y., Ly, N. K., & Murphy, P. B. (2022). Cervicogenic headache. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507862/
Cleveland Clinic. (2024, July 11). Cervicogenic headache: What it is, symptoms & treatment. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/cervicogenic-headache
Jull, G., Trott, P., Potter, H., Zito, G., Niere, K., Shirley, D., & Richardson, C. (2024). The clinical characteristics and treatment of cervicogenic headache. The Journal of Headache and Pain, 25, 123. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11377354/
